Smartwatch

The Pebble Time is an important product for a few reasons, but the most important is that it is the only serious contender for the space on your wrist besides Android Wear and Apple Watch. For most users, Android Wear and Apple Watch make more sense on their respective platforms. Really, the only reason the Pebble Time exists is because the original Pebble did a lot of what many users wanted in a smartwatch far before Android Wear and Apple Watch were a thing nerds argued about and normal humans looked at briefly as they passed through their mall.

Now that Android Wear and Apple Watch are here, though, can Pebble stay relevant with the Time?

Smartwatches are back in the news again thanks to Apple’s latest event, and it has me thinking about a topic that I am tired of thinking about. It’s not necessarily that I don’t want a smartwatch or that I can’t see their prospective usefulness, but rather, much of the press seems to be going through the motions of gazing out at the distant future and hoping it appears on the latest wearable.

Almost everyone seems to agree that Apple failed to provide a story for the product, or the ideal reason why we should want an Apple Watch, which has led to some people remaining skeptical until they try it and others waxing on about how it, unlike Android Wear, is going to change everything. It’s that second group that I’m growing weary of. I keep hearing stories about how the Apple Watch is going to save so much time, and how it will enable us to be more personable since we won’t be looking at our phones anymore, and how it will remove friction from our lives when we use our watch for everything.

Are smartwatches really the thing that will make us better conversationalists, use our phone less, and get more work done? Let’s take a look at some of the promises we have been hearing about smartwatches and examine just how viable they are. (more…)

We enter 2015 after a year in which Google decided to takeover the wearable market with Android Wear. Companies had tried before Android Wear to make smartwatches, but if we are being honest, have to admit that most were quite terrible. That’s not to say that Android Wear is a perfect option, but it’s safe to say that it is currently the best option, as well as an option that should only get better over time. Companies like Motorola, LG, and ASUS have all bought into Google’s wearable platform, even giving us more choices than I think most expected.

With a year full of 2nd generation wearables surely on the horizon, we are wondering how many of you have already jumped into the game early and picked up a smartwatch? (Who would do such a thing with the Apple Watch on the way!) Do you own a Moto 360? One of the G Watches, perhaps? Or maybe you own one of the other options, like say a Gear Live, Gear 2, Zenwatch, Pebble, etc.? If so, be sure to jump into the comments to talk about your specific watch.

According to an early report this morning out of Bloomberg, we may have new news on HTC’s plans for their March 1 MWC event. The report claims that not only will we see a new flagship phone from the Taiwanese company, but a smartwatch should be a part of the party as well. (more…)

After running through a quick unboxing of the Asus ZenWatch, it only made sense to follow up with a comparison video of Asus’ premium Android Wear device to the other two smartwatch champions of the moment, the LG G Watch R and Moto 360. Each is outfitted in premium materials, like metals and leathers, but each is certainly different in its own right, whether that be through the quality of those materials used or its price tag. (more…)

The Asus ZenWatch, an Android Wear device that is arguably the prettiest of them all, is in house and ready for us to dive into. But before we get to a full review, we first need to introduce you to it through an unboxing and tour.

At $199, the ZenWatch is one of the better deals in smartwatches, though it does lack some features that others boast, like a heart rate monitor. But if you are simply looking for a well-made, premium watch to wear on a daily basis, this may be one to keep on your short list. (more…)

LG smartwatch! With Verizon 3G! At the FCC! Unannounced! What does LG have up their sleeves?! G Watch R variant with connectivity?! Something we have never seen before!? Oh. My. God. That’s been the reaction this morning across the interwebs as an unannounced LG smartwatch (LG-VC100) with Verizon 3G connectivity popped up at the FCC. Thing is, it’s just the KizON kid tracker that LG unveiled back in July. (more…)

With IFA kicking off next week, the week before is usually packed with unintentional leaks. The newest leak is from Sony, who may have accidentally shown off two upcoming products in one promo that was placed on its Facebook page.

In the promo, which looks to have been taken down by now, a man sitting poolside is pictured using an unknown tablet, while also wearing an unknown smartwatch. The smartwatch, could either be an upcoming SmartWatch-branded device, or even better, Sony’s first Android Wear-powered smartwatch. The design, to us, gives off a Samsung vibe, especially in the clasp region of the bands. (more…)

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